By Fredrick Samuel Gibson,

ON BEHALF OF NIMBA CITIZENS AND LIBERIANS RESIDING IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE VALLEY and USA,  I write this post with the deepest respect, honor, heartfelt grief and a sense of great loss – and  Of losing one of the greatest leaders of this era; and one of the Founding Fathers of our beautiful UNITED NIMBA CITIZEN’S COUNCIL (UNICCO) – the Former National Chairman Hon. Johnson Gwakolo. 

I can only imagine!  It wasn’t easy uniting thousands of NIMBA Citizens scattered throughout one of the world’s most linguistically and geographically diversed places on earth – USA.  Thank you for giving us hope, a dream, and leading us to believe in ourselves.

Thank you for solidifying the democratic foundations of UNICCO and our  society, based on justice, equality, respect and prosperity of our people.  Thank you for uniting  several tribes and tongues as One People.  One County. One Nation. One Country. 

The fond memories of  the 1990’s is forever etched in my heart as the source of inspiration.  I had just migrated to the United States in 1988. Lived in Newark, New Jersey (NJ) for about four months. In my quest and desire to solidly plant my feet to embark on the Herculean challenges of transition and assimilation into the proverbial ‘melting pot’ – THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I Moved to Trenton, NJ in 1989 – months before the first bullets echoed and resoundingly resonated throughout Africa and the world to usher in and announce the Liberian Revolution launched on Christmas Eve, 1989.

We’ve gathered at the residence of the wife of the late Col. Joseph Simpson, a ranking member of the defunct People’s Redemption Council who was visiting his wife and two little kids. The occasion was a Christmas party and farewell get together for Col. SIMPSON’s scheduled to return to Liberia.

It was at this party the news broke that a new sheriff, Charles Taylor and his men were in NIMBA County, Liberia to alter and or completely change the political, economic and social narratives of Africa’s oldest republic. Upon hearing the news about skirmishes in BUTUO, there were mixed reactions – excitement, jubilations and silence engulfed the scene.  Col. Mike Sharpe, Lt. Mike Edwards, Sgt. Robert Dean and several exiled members of the ARMED FORCES OF LIBERIA were there; so were many Liberians and other invitees. 

The very first sign and signals that Liberia was at the brink of total collapse, carnage, barbaric, and unrestrained  treatment of the people of Liberia were demonstrated at that party. A young man believed to be a citizen from NIMBA county walked up to the honoree, assaulted – slapped and threw several punches at COL. Simpson, a Senator in the SAMUEL DOE’s NDPL GOVERNMENT representing the people of Grand Gedeh County in the Liberian Legislature. Another young man attacked Col. Mike Sharpe claiming that Col. Sharpe made him to swim in pupu water for curfew violations.

There was complete pandemonium and confusion.  I saw the need then and still see the urgent need to reconcile our society and people – a quest for real and selfless leaders like Hon. Gwakolo.

However, upon the urging and invitation from my NIMBA County brothers and sisters, I relocated to Philadelphia in the early 1990’s. At that time there were limited number of NIMBA citizens and Liberians residing in the Philadelphia area. I was introduced and I later joined the local chapter of the UNITED NIMBA CITIZENS’ COUNCIL, UNNICO.

I met and interacted with prominent NIMBA citizens whose names I only heard on radio as a young man and student leader in Liberia. I had no inclination that one day I would be opportuned to be in the company of great men and women like Dr. Yarsuo Weh Dorliea, Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, Dr. Marcus Dahn, Dr. Nyan Kwawon Tyer, Dr. Joseph Korto, Dr. Fredrick Nucket, FRANCIS Sinneah, EPS Sam Gaye, ELDER James Saye, HON. REBECCA Nohn Kidau, Col. INNIS Yormie, and so many notables and prominent NIMBA citizens.

In the summer of 1990, I attended my first UNICCO national conventions in Providence Rhodes Island. It was a huge gathering of NIMBA citizens from all parts of the United States. This is where I met and got to know Hon. Johnson Gwakolo, the National Chairman and presiding officer of the convention.

At that time, the civil war had intensified. There were reports that NIMBA citizens in Liberia were being beheaded and murdered by forces loyal to President Samuel Doe. Reports also surfaced that hundreds of innocent children bused from NIMBA were dumped and buried alive in wells. The conference hall was tense, emotions were high as conference delegates were deliberating on how to respond to reports coming from NIMBA county and Monrovia.

In the midst of all the confusion, another volatile situation erupted at the entrance of the conference hall. It was reported that a prominent member of UNICCO, Cllr. Zogbae Zlahn accused of clandestinely collecting and passing damaging information on NIMBA citizens residing in the UNITED STATES AND LIBERIA to President Doe was banned or disallowed in the conference hall.

The allegation against Cllr. Zlahn led to serious commotions and physical altercations between/anongst  Cllr. Zlahn, his supporters and accusers; and conference delegates. The convention deliberations came to a complete standstill.

The Philadelphia HIGHLINERS – a conceitedly assertive and dogmatic, super politically charged and security conscious group – a semblance of the Soviet KGB, Israeli MOSSAD, the British MI5 & MI6 within the UNICCO ORGANIZATION led by the late John Lahm, Col. INNIS Yormie et al played a dominant role in this saga.

Chairman GWAKOLO immediately took charge of the situation and restored calm. He demonstrated high levels of intelligent and leadership to De-escalate the tension. The conference proceeded peacefully with Cllr. Zlahn’s participation.

CHAIRMAN GWAKOLO, you were awesome, powerful and carried an invisible magnetic force.  I later came to understand that it was God’s Special Leadership Anointing on you.  As a young young man, I stood in pride and tears as conference delegates came together in unity to deliberate on the vexing issues and challenges affecting the lives of NIMBA citizens in the US and at home.

HON: You’re the father of fathers,

The leader of leaders, and Elders of Elders. A true father of the sons and daughters of the great land of NIMBA COUNTY.

You’re an icon of hope, courage and strength. A humble servant leader, who selflessly put other people  first. A great man with so much patience – as clearly exemplified and demonstrated on the floor of the Liberian Legislature, especially dealing with hostile and disrespectful colleagues; you were endowed with humility, pure love and unfathomable forgiveness. A great peacemaker.

I want to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my ideas and thoughts on how to end the Liberian civil crisis.

During the early days of Dr. Amos Sawyer’s interim administration, you along with Amb. Julie Endee visited me at my Record store on Walnut Street, Philadelphia to speak to me and to also let me know you were passing thru; and that you felt the need to see me, to check on me and give me words of motivations. I still imagine those contagious, warm and lovely smiles of yours. I know I’ve made you proud.

Thank you for leading by example

Giving us fatherly guidance and advice. And the many opportunities. I worked alongside you as your Disc Jockey (DJ) and master of ceremony (MC) throughout your Chairmanship and my affiliations with UNICCO IN THE 90’s and beyond. Your precious memories will linger in our hearts forever.

On behalf of my family, UNICCO, the CHILDREN OF GIBSON TOWN, the  great people of Tappita District,

We pay our tribute and homage to you our beloved Grand Chief and law maker. You carried us on your shoulders And made a path through the jungle when there was none.

We’re here today thanks to all that you’ve done for us. We will never fit in your shoes. But we will live in your legacy and your dream of making our County and Country Great.

We will run with the baton that you’ve passed onto us

You have taken a bow on this world’s stage and been promoted to glory to revel in the presence of our Lord and maker. I can picture it all, you are seated on a stool surrounded by those who have gone before us as you regale them with tales of your illustrious life fraught with trials and tribulations from which you emerged victorious and with renewed determination.

In the words of one of my favourite hymns, “It is well with your soul” now, free from pain and any form of affliction. May your selflessness and courage continue to be a beacon of hope for the downtrodden in our struggle to be freed from all forms of human degradation, poverty and social exclusion.

Even though you have ceased to be with us physically, your spirit lives on in our hearts. In the eternal words of that enduring song by Boyz To Men and Mariah Carey, “And I know you’re shining down on me from heaven, like so many friends we’ve lost along the way, and I know eventually we’ll be together, one sweet day”.

You showed us the way… you are the messenger of the almighty, made us to realize the importance of compassion, selflesness and freedom. You made us know to respect others as we seek respect to ourselves by others and regardless of our political affiliations, tribe, relegion or culture. You are the most humble, made us proud, made us to be known, to be respected through our work and values. You are the one …among the many …. you are the star, among the many who made this world to come yet together, live together and build a nation together.


What a pain, what a feeling one can have to see you go away. Only one thing I ask you to do for this world from up the unknown…. please make sure the people of NIMBA, LIBERIA  and that of the world need peace and pray that God may be generous to this generation.

In the the LEGISLATURE YOU were an icon, a man who fought for what was right. Human rights DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE and freedom! You have left us but you have left the LIBERIAN people and the people of the world with peace and knowing that it was not in vain for all that you suffered and advocated for.

Today, the people of LIBERIA are enjoying their freedom, democracy and that is what we all need to do in our life here on earth. LEAVE A MARK that is positive in peoples lives.

May the good Lord keep Your family in peace at this time of mourning our Hero, our icon…

We convey our love, prayers and deepest condolences to your beloved  family, extended families

And rest of Liberia, Africa and the world  who are mourning this great loss.

As the Shabbat descends upon the land, may the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of the Yahveh Elohim God grant Peace & Comfort to NIMBA COUNTY AND LIBERIA and everyone who is mourning. 

Fellow Liberians, May the Memory of one of our Greatest Leaders be an Eternal Blessing in this beautiful blessed country of ours. 

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” [Daniel 12:3].

HON. JOHNSON GWAKOLO: May you shine like the stars for ever and ever.  May you rest in Love & Shalom till we Meet Again on that Golden Morning. 

With Love, Respect & Honor

FREDRICK SAMUEL GIBSON, Sr. MBA, MSc, MPA, MA

SHARON HILL, PENNSYLVANIA